1. Use spices and seasoning on your food instead of condiments. They’ll last longer and are much cheaper. The spices in the international section of the grocery store are usually a fraction of the cost compared to what you’ll find in the regular spice section.

2. Stay away from bagged salads. Instead, buy individual ingredients, make your own salads, and bag them separately for the entire week.

3. Add zucchini to hamburger meat. It’s a great filler and a creative way to sneak veggies into your food.

4. Make hardboiled eggs. They are a cheap and nutritious snack or a protein-packed breakfast on the go. Simply add salt, pepper and hot sauce for flavor!

5. Prepare your food ahead of time. It’s much easier to eat unhealthy when you don’t plan and don’t have options to quickly grab from your fridge. Some easy ideas for food prep include:

Buy chicken when it’s on sale and store it in gallon-sized freezer bags.

Buy the store-brand brown rice (there’s nothing wrong with it), then cook it in chicken, beef or vegetable broth to add flavor.

Chop potatoes, add a little salt, pepper and olive oil for flavor, then roast them in the oven. This is a great snack throughout the week!

Natalie makes it clear—the key to eating healthy is planning ahead.

So when it comes to achieving your healthy eating resolutions in 2016, plan your budget and your meals ahead of time! Happy New Year!